時光是會倒流的嗎？
………………………………………………………李察
(問到底No.8246 2011/09/29 Thursday)
親愛的Prosephine :
真是十分謝謝來信。因為，這封信，掀起了我長久在心裡的一個問題。我自從很小很小的時候，已經常常想到這一個問題了：甚麼是「時間」？今天再次檢視相同問題，趣味特別濃厚。
我想到，時間只不過是一種量度事情發生的工具。自然，這也是很幼稚的。例如，我想到，從學校走路回家，要多少「時間」呢？那時，我是沒有手錶的。雖然我發瘋似地渴望有一隻手錶。從學校走路回家，要看看那山上教堂的大鐘。只要指針走了兩格，就是大約十分鐘，我已經到家了。每次當我看見那巨型的指針在吃力地跳動，就想到，時間是在這針裡面的嗎？當然不是的。這針也不過是一種計算工具。這是小學生也會明白的。那時，也時常讀舊式小說的。小說中時常提到，「一柱香」那麼久的時間，或者，「一盞茶」時份，也是另外的一種測量時間的工具。甚至，眼皮也能測量時間的，「一貶眼之間」，也是時間。連「口氣」也可以是時間。學校離家這樣近，「一口氣」就到了。大約「兩口氣」之間，就可以來回。
又好像那日出日落，或者出生死亡之類，都是各有時間的。只要用一種工具，無論那是手錶也好，大鐘也好，都可以算出來。
那麼，時間是不是可以獨立計算的呢？
好像很簡單。時間當然是可以獨立計算的。一秒、兩秒、加上去就是。
但有時數字太大了，就要依賴專業人仕去計算。
又或者專業人仕們太忙了。他們發明了很多符號，去簡化計算。例如，他們找到了一個「無限大」的符號“∞”，到了無法計算的一刻，就用這符號填上去。時間到了這麼久遠，是無限了，那麼，時間會回頭嗎？
如果時間沒有跟「事情」（things）的發展脫開了，大約人們是不會這樣想的。
時間本來只是「事情」的發展，是不能獨立的。要有事情，才有時間。沒有事情，就沒有時間。現在的所謂「時間」，不過是一種數學。而這數學，是可以隨意計算，不必理會事情是怎樣發展的。
這就是說，所謂「時間」，不過是人類測量事情發展的一種外在的工具。就好像是一把尺子。這尺子，本來是要附同「事情」一起的。現在是拆了尺子出來，我們已經忘記了，宇宙間本來是沒有這把尺子的。這尺子，不過是一種人造的符號，一種人為的想像。
你當然是可以想像一下，一種「無限長」的時間，是怎樣的。更加可能想像，時間到了無限長的「境界」，會不會往回走。“∞” 會不會回來，又變為 ”1”？甚至變為“0”？ 而更有趣的是，我們明明知道，所謂 “0”，也完全是一種想像，宇宙間是沒有“0”這一件東西的。
有甚麼問題呢？
問題就是，我們已經把「時間」和「事情」分割開了。
時間與事情的分割，就是現代科學的重要特徵。
當計算混亂的一刻，人們又不自然地想到，要把「事情」放回去，放回去「時間」裡面。
他們以為，「時光」倒流，「事情」也會倒流的。
我們會跟著時間一起「復活」嗎？
請注意，我不是反對「復活」的。事情會發生，會發展，會生長，那是「事情」自己的事。如果「事情」會重新發展，甚至走回頭，也並非不可能。但是，時間回頭，卻未必等於事情倒流。這是要分清楚的。
時間有兩種。一種是外在的，人為的計算。另一種，是事情本身的發展順序。時間是分為「外在時間」和「內在時間」兩種的。
一朵花開了，就是一朵花開了。如果我們嘗試測量，花仍是花。但如果你把你的數字拿走了，你讓數字自己獨立了，離開了，只是你自己的想像。就好像現在是二千零幾多年。你再加一千，兩千上去，也只是計算。至於兩千年之後，還有沒有這個地球存在，則是另外一回事。地球不是因為「日曆」而存在的。如果「日曆」回頭，地球是未必跟著一起回頭的。
時間不可以跟事情(現實)分割，因為，時間本來是內在於現實之中的。外在時間，是作不得準的。
我們時常希望知道， 「現實」是往何處去，又會回頭不會回頭？
時光倒流，現實未必倒流。花開了，未必會變回種子。花兒開過了，不會好像從未曾開過那樣。青春過去，不再回頭。回頭只是外在化的想像而已。
如果時間只不過是一種外在計算，那麼，我們就會被迫想到：
事情的內在發展，會是怎麼樣的？我走完了這一段路，下一段路又是怎樣的？
這問題是好的。因為，這問題會引人前瞻。往前看，是很快樂的。
真的希望，這一類問題，可以把我們的層次提升。
李察謹上
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(明天問題:
9/29/2011
Will “time” come back in the future?
Will “time” come back in the future?
…………………………………………Leechard
(Quest No.8246e 2011/09/28 Wednesday)
Dear Prosephine,
Thanks for your question.
Ever since I were a little boy, I have been thinking: What is time?
Time is but a human measurement of the “things”. That is the conclusion of a little boy. Though I didn't know what is the “things”, however, that will not affect the conclusion.
We will come to “notice” something. Like sunrise and sunset, like baby and old folk. How long does it take?
Can we take away the time from the things, and count it, and make a calender?
It seems simple.
You can always count the “time”.
One second, two seconds, three seconds, like that.
Now we have some professional people to do these things. May be they are lazy. They have invented some symbols when they found the counting is difficult. When you just count 1, 2, 3, 4,…. until one day, the numbers are so big, you find it confusing, and you say, that is it, and that is infinitive“∞”. And you will say, when time is so so so long, then time is going to a very very very long long future, like “∞”, when time has gone so far, and we can not imagine such a distance, then, we will ask: will time come back?
Now we have come from the human measurement to the human imagination. At first we tried to measure things with some numbers. Now we found the measures are so big, then we invented some more symbols like “∞”. Then we studied the “∞”, and decided time could come back from “∞” to 1, and to zero! (And zero is another human invention too. There arent any zero in the universe.)
What had gone wrong?
It was all because the separation. We human beings had decided to separate the “time” from the “things, and when the counting is so confused, then we tried to put back the “things” into the “time”.
Can we come back from death together with time when the time comes back? This is one of the interesting question arising from the separation.
And please take note that, I am not against resurrection. Things can change, or growth, or develop, what happens to the things are not in the external calculations, but in the things itself.
If we go back to the inner study of “time”, we will found, time can not be separated from the “things”.
A flower is blossoming, and that means, a flower is blossoming. If we try to measure it, the flower is still the flower. But you can take the “measure” away. You think, a measure is a measure, and the measure can stand away from the things. The measure could go further away from the things. From calculation, you will know now is two thousand years something, and there will be three or four or more thousand years ahead.
And this, is the separation.
All measurements are from outside.
It seems that, things are always changing. We can not help to think, is there a rate for the change? And what will come next? And some people had “hoped” that the flowers could one day go back as seeds, and old people can become young again. Though it can not be proved or denied, yet it is but our external imagination.
If time is but the external calculation of reality, then, we will be confronted with a more important question:
What is the internal development of things?
I do hope this question can bring us to a higher level of views.
with regards,
Leechard
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9/28/2011
Will time come back?
Hi, Leechard
Most ancient cultures seems to have cyclical concept of time except for Hebrews who see time as linear. Any idea why that's the case? How does that contribute to the differences in their religions?
Thanks,
Prosephine
Most ancient cultures seems to have cyclical concept of time except for Hebrews who see time as linear. Any idea why that's the case? How does that contribute to the differences in their religions?
Thanks,
Prosephine
9/27/2011
怎樣盜取馬克吐溫的火？
怎樣盜取馬克吐溫的火？
………………………………………………………李察(問到底No.8245 2011 0927 Thursday)
*周一人物*
普羅米修士所盜取之火，屬於天上。但其實火種已經留落人間，我們也隨時可能取用。
到底火在那裡？
火就在許多有火的先行者心裡。只要略花心力，就能夠取得。
最近李察看了一本馬克吐溫(Mark Twain)的早期自傳。此書是他死後才出版的。他不是一生下來就是文學家的。他生下來的時候，是一個鄉下青年。那是密西西比河畔的一個靜靜的小鎮。街上行人稀少。僅有的幾個人，都在門前閒坐，打瞌睡。
但是，只要河上的蒸氣船一來，整條村的人，就都醒來了。那時的英雄，是船上的駕駛者。馬克吐溫十分羨慕，很想也當一個駕駛蒸汽船的水手。
此書大半就講他怎樣努力，學會了駕船。
而火就在他的努力之中。
原來在河上駕船，是非常不容易的。要記熟全部的河上地形。各種河曲的彎曲形狀，還有各處深淺，沒有地圖，全部都要熟記在心。一不小心，就會翻船。他就好像要把這整條河都吞了。那是一條他夢中睡中都不會忘記的河。
心火略少的人，一早就放棄了。
而我們後來後世的讀書人，最重要的，就是沾上這火。至於怎樣在沒有地圖的情況下學會密密西比河的各處險惡形勢，還是次要的。或者此書的吸引力，不會比他其他作品那樣大。讀者亦未必喜歡那長長的河上旅程。但其實，火在其中。取得到的人，有福了。
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(明天問題:
How did Mark Twain learn to drive a steamboat?
How did Mark Twain learn to drive a steamboat?
…………………………………………Leechard
(Quest No.8245e 2011 0927 Tuesday)
Whenever I am reading a book, I always tried to find out “something” from the book. It has been a habit of me. And I had a very simple objective: to find out some thing to write about. However, it was only recently that I had the feeling to get “something” more then “something” from the books. It was the energy within the books. Alternatively, you may call them “fire”. Is there any inner energy in the books?
It was like fire.
Reading is like Prometheus stealing the fire. The fire is so attractive, that you will pay anything to get it.
Is there anything so special in the autobiography of Mark Twain?
In his early days, he had been a steamboat pilot.
How did he manage to do that?
It turned out that to drive a steamboat, is to know the Mississippi completely. That means, he had to learn it by heart all the particulars of the river, the bends, the chutes, the various dangers…..And he was in the four hour working shift. He could only write down his notes within four hours. And his notebook will become blank when he was asleep….
He had been working extremely hard.
It is an interesting book. It seems you are in the same boat, driving the boat together with him. When you finished reading, you probably have a question:
If I were in his position, will I be working as hard as he will?
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9/25/2011
What is “growth”?
What is “growth”?
…………………………………………Leechard
(Quest No.8244e 2011/09/20 Tuesday)
You can build a house, but you can not grow a house.
Can we grow our culture?
Can we grow our economy?
see what is growth
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9/24/2011
切開一隻橙，能夠找到內在嗎？
………………………………………………………李察
(問到底 No.8243 2011/09/23 Friday)
......
如果你切開一隻橙、橙汁四濺，但那仍是外在。
橙的內在在你的心裡。不在橙的表皮裡。
同樣，地球的內在，也在你的心裡。
氣侯的內在，也在你的心裡。
下次的台風路徑，也在你的心裡。
明天的股市表現，也在你的心裡。
如果你們曾經溝通的話。
...
(問到底 No.8243 2011/09/23 Friday)
......
如果你切開一隻橙、橙汁四濺，但那仍是外在。
橙的內在在你的心裡。不在橙的表皮裡。
同樣，地球的內在，也在你的心裡。
氣侯的內在，也在你的心裡。
下次的台風路徑，也在你的心裡。
明天的股市表現，也在你的心裡。
如果你們曾經溝通的話。
...
Can I find the internal by cutting open an orange?
…………………………………………Leechard
(Quest No.8243e 2011/09/23 Friday)
If I cut open an orange, the juice may spill, but it is external.
The internal is in your mind, not in the orange skin.
The internal of the earth, is in your mind.
The internal of the weather, is in your mind.
The internal of the market, is in your mind.
When you can communicate with them.
...
(Quest No.8243e 2011/09/23 Friday)
If I cut open an orange, the juice may spill, but it is external.
The internal is in your mind, not in the orange skin.
The internal of the earth, is in your mind.
The internal of the weather, is in your mind.
The internal of the market, is in your mind.
When you can communicate with them.
...
9/23/2011
何謂「內在的生長」？
何謂「內在的生長」？
………………………………………………………李察(問到底No.8242 2011 0922 Thursday)
此處是兩個很陌生的意念。一個是「內在」，另外的一個是「生長」。
何謂「內在」？
在拙著「莊子原著與莊子原理」書中，曾經寫過。但這意念十分重要。我期待，這會是未來世界的一個重要討論課題。多討論是必要的。
而我將會盡量不去定義何謂「內在」。因為那是幾乎不可定義的。何謂「內在」，這是心靈溝通的範疇，而不是言語界定的範疇。
而在討論的時候，我比較喜歡用「溝通」一詞，去代替所謂的「認知」。當人類第一次來到世界，他們是盡量去溝通世界上的所有事物，而不僅僅只是去認知。我們是與萬物溝通，而不是僅僅探索、閱讀、測量，或使用各種認知技術去研究。我們是在彼此溝通。
溝通是與認知不同的。
認知是外在的。而溝通是內在、外在、甚至是多向度的。
怎樣去認識一個人？
我們是用心去和這人溝通的。我們使用內在的方法，多於外在的方法。外在的方法，例如偵測、調查，是有用的，但也是有限的。你愈是去調查，你就愈是無法溝通。
這樣，你就是把自己放逐於知識之外。在你和你的對象之間，無論那是一塊石頭，一本書，一件事，或者你的配偶，都是不能用外在調查的方法去互相認識的。你只是互相拒絕。
溝通是以內在為主的，外在為輔的。
那麼，何謂「內在」?
「內在」是與溝通並存的。如果想知道「內在」，就必定是有兩方面的。「外在」也是一樣。如果沒有了另外的一方面，所謂「外在」，是沒有意義的。
而最奇妙的是，這些方面，都是互相聯結的。所謂方面，並非方面。他們只是一。他們都是屬於同一個整體的。
在同一個整體之內，是可能互相溝通的。這就是莊子原理。我們都是同一。我們完全是可能從內在方面，互相了解的。
明白了這一點，你就可能跟世界上的任何人溝通。一個你喜歡的女孩子，一個你喜歡的男孩子。一個你尊敬的學者，一塊石頭，都是不陌生的。
我怎樣和一塊石頭溝通？
我可以給你最少兩個例子。
一個是卞和。他和一塊石頭溝通，發現了其中的美玉。他用了自己的生命，把這塊美玉，加進了中國文化之中。這是一個長長的故事，此處無法敘述。
另一個例子是寫作《紅樓夢》亦即《石頭記》的隱名作家。他跟一塊石頭溝通，石頭背後的整個宇宙，就都對他開放了。
還有更有趣的。
怎樣和地球溝通？我們會知道下次地震何時的。怎樣和經濟溝通？我們會知道下次低潮的。
項目是有無限之多。如果都能在內在角度溝通了，我們會快樂些。
下次課題：何謂「生長」？
*(我寧願使用「意念」一詞，總比「概念」好。因為，概念是屬於左腦，而意念則屬於不清楚的一類，那是很難定義的。)
查詢電話 2559-4690
★(寶貴意見，大家分享。請寫到以下電郵地址:
Academy2008@hotmail.com
★(或請直接鍵入以下的 ‘comments’ 連結點:
(Or, click the ‘comments’ link below.)
(明天問題:
………………………………………………………李察(問到底No.8242 2011 0922 Thursday)
此處是兩個很陌生的意念。一個是「內在」，另外的一個是「生長」。
何謂「內在」？
在拙著「莊子原著與莊子原理」書中，曾經寫過。但這意念十分重要。我期待，這會是未來世界的一個重要討論課題。多討論是必要的。
而我將會盡量不去定義何謂「內在」。因為那是幾乎不可定義的。何謂「內在」，這是心靈溝通的範疇，而不是言語界定的範疇。
而在討論的時候，我比較喜歡用「溝通」一詞，去代替所謂的「認知」。當人類第一次來到世界，他們是盡量去溝通世界上的所有事物，而不僅僅只是去認知。我們是與萬物溝通，而不是僅僅探索、閱讀、測量，或使用各種認知技術去研究。我們是在彼此溝通。
溝通是與認知不同的。
認知是外在的。而溝通是內在、外在、甚至是多向度的。
怎樣去認識一個人？
我們是用心去和這人溝通的。我們使用內在的方法，多於外在的方法。外在的方法，例如偵測、調查，是有用的，但也是有限的。你愈是去調查，你就愈是無法溝通。
這樣，你就是把自己放逐於知識之外。在你和你的對象之間，無論那是一塊石頭，一本書，一件事，或者你的配偶，都是不能用外在調查的方法去互相認識的。你只是互相拒絕。
溝通是以內在為主的，外在為輔的。
那麼，何謂「內在」?
「內在」是與溝通並存的。如果想知道「內在」，就必定是有兩方面的。「外在」也是一樣。如果沒有了另外的一方面，所謂「外在」，是沒有意義的。
而最奇妙的是，這些方面，都是互相聯結的。所謂方面，並非方面。他們只是一。他們都是屬於同一個整體的。
在同一個整體之內，是可能互相溝通的。這就是莊子原理。我們都是同一。我們完全是可能從內在方面，互相了解的。
明白了這一點，你就可能跟世界上的任何人溝通。一個你喜歡的女孩子，一個你喜歡的男孩子。一個你尊敬的學者，一塊石頭，都是不陌生的。
我怎樣和一塊石頭溝通？
我可以給你最少兩個例子。
一個是卞和。他和一塊石頭溝通，發現了其中的美玉。他用了自己的生命，把這塊美玉，加進了中國文化之中。這是一個長長的故事，此處無法敘述。
另一個例子是寫作《紅樓夢》亦即《石頭記》的隱名作家。他跟一塊石頭溝通，石頭背後的整個宇宙，就都對他開放了。
還有更有趣的。
怎樣和地球溝通？我們會知道下次地震何時的。怎樣和經濟溝通？我們會知道下次低潮的。
項目是有無限之多。如果都能在內在角度溝通了，我們會快樂些。
下次課題：何謂「生長」？
*(我寧願使用「意念」一詞，總比「概念」好。因為，概念是屬於左腦，而意念則屬於不清楚的一類，那是很難定義的。)
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(明天問題:
What is “internal growth”?
What is “internal growth”?
…………………………………………Leechard
(Quest No.8242e 2011 0920 Tuesday)
Actually these are two very unfamiliar ideas here. One is “ internal”, and the other is “growth”.*
What is “internal”?
I have explained “internal” and “external” in my book: “Zhuang Zi Original and Zhuang Zi Theory”, but this is an idea so important that I expect it will be the most popular subject in the near future, that more discussions are always needed.
And I shall refrain from defining “internal”, as it is not in the definable field. What is “internal”? We need to use the mind to communicate with this term.
And I would use the term “communicate” instead of “cognition”. When human beings are born into the world, we communicate with every thing around us. When we tried to understand something, we are communicating with them, not only “searching”, “reading”, “measuring” or using any kind of “cognitive skill” to approach. We communicate.
Communicate is very different from cognition.
Cognition is mainly external. And Communication is external plus internal plus multi-dimensional.
How do we come to know someone?
We use our mind to communicate with the one. We use internal method more than external method. The external method, like espionage or investigation, is useful but limited. The more you investigate, the less you communicate. And you will be excluded from knowing. You and your object, no matter that is a rock, a book, an issue or your spouse, do not know each other via external investigation. You are excluded from each other.
To communicate is to communicate internally more than externally.
What is “internal” then?
“ Internal” is something coming together with “communication”. There must be two or more parties if you really wanted to find out what “internal” is. And the same applied to “external”. You will see, if there is no other party present, then the so called “external’ is meaningless.
And the wonderful point is here: the parties are connected. The parties are actually not parties.
They are one. So, they can communicate with each other. And this is the principle of Zhuang Zi. We are all one, then we could find out the internal interests of every thing.
Bearing this in mind, you can communicate with any one on earth. A girl you like, a boy you appreciate, a scholar you admire, or even a rock, is no strange to you.
How do I communicate with a rock?
At least, I can give you two examples in communicating with a rock.
One is Bian Huo(卞和) He had communicated with a rock , and found the most beautiful jade inside, and used his life to add the jade and its spirit into the Chinese culture. And I can not make a long story short here.
The other is the unknown writer of the book: “The dream of the red chamber” (The story of a stone).
The writer had communicated with the rock, and to the complete universe behind the rock.
And more important issues are coming
How do we communicate with the earth? Then we would know when is the next earthquake? How do we communicate with the economy? Then we would know when is the next depression?
It’s simply too many issues here. If we can communicate with the issues internally, we will be happier.
(*I would use “idea” instead of “concept”, as concept is coming from our left brain and is easier to define and idea is always not clear and can hardly be defined. )
Next time: What is “growth”
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★Or, click the ‘comments’ links below.
…………………………………………Leechard
(Quest No.8242e 2011 0920 Tuesday)
Actually these are two very unfamiliar ideas here. One is “ internal”, and the other is “growth”.*
What is “internal”?
I have explained “internal” and “external” in my book: “Zhuang Zi Original and Zhuang Zi Theory”, but this is an idea so important that I expect it will be the most popular subject in the near future, that more discussions are always needed.
And I shall refrain from defining “internal”, as it is not in the definable field. What is “internal”? We need to use the mind to communicate with this term.
And I would use the term “communicate” instead of “cognition”. When human beings are born into the world, we communicate with every thing around us. When we tried to understand something, we are communicating with them, not only “searching”, “reading”, “measuring” or using any kind of “cognitive skill” to approach. We communicate.
Communicate is very different from cognition.
Cognition is mainly external. And Communication is external plus internal plus multi-dimensional.
How do we come to know someone?
We use our mind to communicate with the one. We use internal method more than external method. The external method, like espionage or investigation, is useful but limited. The more you investigate, the less you communicate. And you will be excluded from knowing. You and your object, no matter that is a rock, a book, an issue or your spouse, do not know each other via external investigation. You are excluded from each other.
To communicate is to communicate internally more than externally.
What is “internal” then?
“ Internal” is something coming together with “communication”. There must be two or more parties if you really wanted to find out what “internal” is. And the same applied to “external”. You will see, if there is no other party present, then the so called “external’ is meaningless.
And the wonderful point is here: the parties are connected. The parties are actually not parties.
They are one. So, they can communicate with each other. And this is the principle of Zhuang Zi. We are all one, then we could find out the internal interests of every thing.
Bearing this in mind, you can communicate with any one on earth. A girl you like, a boy you appreciate, a scholar you admire, or even a rock, is no strange to you.
How do I communicate with a rock?
At least, I can give you two examples in communicating with a rock.
One is Bian Huo(卞和) He had communicated with a rock , and found the most beautiful jade inside, and used his life to add the jade and its spirit into the Chinese culture. And I can not make a long story short here.
The other is the unknown writer of the book: “The dream of the red chamber” (The story of a stone).
The writer had communicated with the rock, and to the complete universe behind the rock.
And more important issues are coming
How do we communicate with the earth? Then we would know when is the next earthquake? How do we communicate with the economy? Then we would know when is the next depression?
It’s simply too many issues here. If we can communicate with the issues internally, we will be happier.
(*I would use “idea” instead of “concept”, as concept is coming from our left brain and is easier to define and idea is always not clear and can hardly be defined. )
Next time: What is “growth”
Inquiry 852- 2559-4690
★Write to
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★Or, click the ‘comments’ links below.
What is “internal” then?
..................................................................
“ Internal” is something coming together with “communication”. ....
(See me tomorrow)
one click here and you can communicate with me....
......
“ Internal” is something coming together with “communication”. ....
(See me tomorrow)
one click here and you can communicate with me....
......
9/22/2011
What is internal growth?
I am working on the problem of "internal growth"....
there is no other issue more important in the modern economy......
...
there is no other issue more important in the modern economy......
...
9/20/2011
夏目漱石的困難何在？
夏目漱石的困難何在？
………………………………………………………李察
(問到底No.8241 2011/09/20 Tuesday)
當我正在看夏目漱石的一篇演說稿時，忽然感覺一陣震蕩。他怎能有這樣的智慧，一百年前就已經如此清楚地看見了一切？
他說，文化發展就好像開花那樣，是「生長」出來的。日本人在明治維新之後的發展，是外在的。不像西方文化那樣，是自然地發展出來的，
他說，西方文化的發展，是內在的發展。就像開花那樣，一步一步那樣走出來，雖然是慢些，但卻是有生命力的。西方用了一百年光陰，日本卻只用了十年就追上去了。
日本的情況，就不是「生長」。而這樣的發展，是外在的。
夏目漱石是極少數能夠分辨內外的人。
但他提出的問題，到今天仍未能解決。
發展需要一百年時間，但你卻只有十年。你是被迫加速的。你被迫使用各種外在的方法去幹。如果你不跑著幹，就會被毀滅。無論是你、或者我、或者我們，能否找到好方法，安全的方法，只用十年就跑畢這一百年的長途？
夏目漱石說，所以，結局是必定悲慘的。而他是對的。今日的日本情況，就是他的見証。他有眼見嗎？當然他是有眼見的。今日，他的頭像是印在日本一千元鈔票上的。從1984到2004 發行的鈔票，都印上了。他就每天都親眼看到了今日日本經濟的情況。事實上，他是真正看見了，日本的人為經濟，並不是內在發展出來的。只是一種匆忙的、人為的、操縱出來的政策。
他是在1911 年講這話的，今天已經是2011年。一百年來，他的意見都是被忽略的。雖然日本人仍然十分尊重他，否則不會印他的頭像在鈔票上。
如此受尊重的人物，為何意見仍會被忽略？
這是另一個有趣問題。而我相信，解決了這問題，現代經濟的大難題，也會有眉目了。
(參考：《世界著名作家演說精粹》，百花洲文藝出版社，中國、南昌，1996。 頁150, 夏目漱石：「現代日本的開化」)
Inquiry 852- 2559-4690
★Write to
Academy2008@hotmail.com
★Or, click the ‘comments’ links below.
查詢電話 2559-4690
★(寶貴意見，大家分享。請寫到以下電郵地址:
Academy2008@hotmail.com
★(或請直接鍵入以下的 ‘comments’ 連結點:
(Or, click the ‘comments’ link below.)
(明天問題:
………………………………………………………李察
(問到底No.8241 2011/09/20 Tuesday)
當我正在看夏目漱石的一篇演說稿時，忽然感覺一陣震蕩。他怎能有這樣的智慧，一百年前就已經如此清楚地看見了一切？
他說，文化發展就好像開花那樣，是「生長」出來的。日本人在明治維新之後的發展，是外在的。不像西方文化那樣，是自然地發展出來的，
他說，西方文化的發展，是內在的發展。就像開花那樣，一步一步那樣走出來，雖然是慢些，但卻是有生命力的。西方用了一百年光陰，日本卻只用了十年就追上去了。
日本的情況，就不是「生長」。而這樣的發展，是外在的。
夏目漱石是極少數能夠分辨內外的人。
但他提出的問題，到今天仍未能解決。
發展需要一百年時間，但你卻只有十年。你是被迫加速的。你被迫使用各種外在的方法去幹。如果你不跑著幹，就會被毀滅。無論是你、或者我、或者我們，能否找到好方法，安全的方法，只用十年就跑畢這一百年的長途？
夏目漱石說，所以，結局是必定悲慘的。而他是對的。今日的日本情況，就是他的見証。他有眼見嗎？當然他是有眼見的。今日，他的頭像是印在日本一千元鈔票上的。從1984到2004 發行的鈔票，都印上了。他就每天都親眼看到了今日日本經濟的情況。事實上，他是真正看見了，日本的人為經濟，並不是內在發展出來的。只是一種匆忙的、人為的、操縱出來的政策。
他是在1911 年講這話的，今天已經是2011年。一百年來，他的意見都是被忽略的。雖然日本人仍然十分尊重他，否則不會印他的頭像在鈔票上。
如此受尊重的人物，為何意見仍會被忽略？
這是另一個有趣問題。而我相信，解決了這問題，現代經濟的大難題，也會有眉目了。
(參考：《世界著名作家演說精粹》，百花洲文藝出版社，中國、南昌，1996。 頁150, 夏目漱石：「現代日本的開化」)
Inquiry 852- 2559-4690
★Write to
Academy2008@hotmail.com
★Or, click the ‘comments’ links below.
查詢電話 2559-4690
★(寶貴意見，大家分享。請寫到以下電郵地址:
Academy2008@hotmail.com
★(或請直接鍵入以下的 ‘comments’ 連結點:
(Or, click the ‘comments’ link below.)
(明天問題:
What is the problem of Natsume Soseki?
What is the problem of Natsume Soseki?
…………………………………………Leechard
(Quest No.8241e 2011/09/19 Monday)
I was reading Chinese version or Natsume Soseki's speech. Suddenly I was shocked. How could he see things so clearly one hundred years before?
He said, culture development is just like flowers growing. The Japanese development after the Meiji Period was external!!!!!! And it is not like the Western culture, which was developing in a very natural way. He said, the Western growth was an internal growth, just like flowers, step by step, they grow slowly but with a life! The West has used 100 years to grow, now Japan was using 10 years only to catch up.
And that is not growth. And this kind of development was external.
Natsume Soseki was one of the few who can distinguish between internal and external.
But his problem remains unsolved until today.
The development needed 100 years to grow. But you have only 10 years. You are forced to run, to use any kind of external methods. If you don’t run, you will die. How can you or me or us to find a way to develop safely and quickly, using only 10 years to run the 100-year highway?
And that could be ended up in a very tragic way, Natsume Soseki said. And he was right. To day’s situation in Japan is his witness. Will he had an eye to see it? Yes of course he had. His portrait appeared on the front of the Japanese 1000 yen note between 1984 and 2004. He faces Japanese economy every day. Actually he IS seeing the decline of a man-made economy, which is not coming from internal growth, but a hurried artificially manipulating policies.
His speech was delivered in 1911, and now we are in 2011. Natsume Soseki had been neglected for one hundred years exactly, though the Japanese were still honoring him, or else they will not put his portrait on the 1000 yen note.
And why the Japanese neglected him?
It is another interesting problem. And I believe, by solving this problem, the clue to modern economy could be found.
Inquiry 852- 2559-4690
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What is the problem of Natsume Soseki?
I was reading a Chinese version of Natsume Soseki's speech.
Suddenly I was shocked. How could he see things so clearly
one hundred years before?..................
Suddenly I was shocked. How could he see things so clearly
one hundred years before?..................
9/18/2011
中秋節的內在意義何在？
中秋節的內在意義何在？
………………………………………………………李察
(問到底No.8239 2011/ 09/17 Saturday)
中秋節有兩種內在意義，都是需要略加解釋的。
第一種是遠古傳下來的意義。這意義代表了中國人的奮鬥精神。
一， 你可奮鬥。
二， 你是在地上。你或者會錯。
三， 你們應該彼此相愛。
四， 你可以是快樂的。
第二種是經過儒家解釋的意義。那是自從周朝就已經開始的岐路。
一， 我們是在一個圓內生活的。
二， 我們在圓內，以仁相待。
三， 外國的圓，不會比我們的圓更圓。
那麼，中秋節與奮鬥何干？月亮是何等平和，怎樣奮鬥？
中秋節的故事，是這樣的：
很久很久以前，天上有十個太陽。天神后羿發覺，這是不可忍受的。百姓的苦，已經受夠了。十個太陽，不斷煎熬老百姓。后羿決心要改變這種情況。他就用自己的弓，去射落太陽。他射落了九個太陽。
中國人的原始奮鬥精神，是跟孔子服從天命的思想，很不相同的。
這就是故事的第一重內在意義：你可奮鬥。人類是天賦有奮鬥權利的。連天上的太陽，也是可能射落的。
而不幸的是：這九個太陽是天帝的兒子。天帝見后羿射殺自己的兒子，十分憤怒。就把后羿貶為凡人。從此，后羿唯有流落人間，變成了一個人。
后羿向西王母求援。西王母給了他不死之藥。吃了這藥，就可以重返天庭，永生不死。
后羿十分快樂。他回家，藏好了藥。他想等到一個合適的時候，就回返天庭。
但是，有一天，他卻發覺失去了藥。有人偷了他的藥。是他自己的妻子，把藥偷了。
…………………………………
或者，這原因是永遠不可知的。為甚麼他的妻子，要把藥偷了？還要吃了？
後世所有說故事的人，說到這裡，總是要添加一點情節。或者，她是害怕了？怕被遺棄在人間？又或者，另有甚麼重大的因由？
而唯一可能的象徵意義是：在超自然的力量底下，人為力量仍是有的。雖然，人的行為，往往不可逆料。人為力量，可能是對、亦可能是錯。又或者是不對不錯的模糊境界。我們也很難斷定，結果應該怎樣。
只是，我們可能猜想得到，故事中的內在意義。
內在意義就是：我們是人，而人的作為，是可能有錯的。
這一點其實十分重要。因為，只有承認了，人為力量是可能錯的，則才有可能終於走上正路。這一種想法，跟西方的罪的觀念也很相似。雖然，犯錯和犯罪仍是不相同的。
還有的是，所謂「命運」，是可能因為人自己的作為導致的，不一定是上天註定的。故事說，藥是被另外的「人」偷去的。未必是上天的旨意。
.
此刻 ，后羿就被正式遺棄在人間了。他是一個人。
而后羿的美麗妻子，是嫦娥。
嫦娥吃了藥，發覺身體竟然輕了。她走路輕快，當她踏在梯上的時候，發覺有一股力量在托著自己。她從未曾經試過這種感覺。
又過了不久，她發覺自己會飛。她一飛就飛到月亮。從此，她就永遠留在月亮裡面了。
她一定是很寂寞的。
而故事的內在意義就是：你們應該彼此相愛。或者，他們就是因為沒有彼此相愛，才分開了的。
寂寞來自愛的欠缺。她多麼渴望有人相愛。
她是寂寞的。而他後來，也遭遇到更多的不幸。
愛的另一面就是妒。后羿就是被妒忌心所殺的。他的學生，謀殺了他。
他的學生，妒忌他的箭術。以為，后羿雖然是箭術天下第一。但是，只要后羿一死，他自己就是天下第一。而這一位愚蠢的學生永遠沒有想到，就算是后羿死了，他仍是一個二流的弓箭手。更永遠不可能進入那內在的、美的境界。雖然，他或者已經得到了世界冠軍的名銜。
這學生趁后羿沒有留意，就用一根桃木棒子，從後面擊碎了后羿的腦袋。從此，這位學生，就被永遠開除了。他永遠也不可能進入美的天國。
沒有愛的地方，妒就出現。所以，你們一定要彼此相愛。
這件事也提醒了我們：后羿一定是沒有愛嫦娥的。人是會錯的。否則不會導致這樣的分離。
也是要到了此刻，我們才漸漸明白了。知道了故事中的空白位置，裡面有甚麼。當后羿被逐來到地上的時候，他遇到了一位女郎。他們一定有過一段濃濃的情。到了後來，他卻要走了。留下這位可憐的女子。他要獨自享受天庭的生活。任何人都可能想像，甚麼事情會發生。
而故事的明確意義，也是到了這裡才出現的。
在中國人的心中，團圓是極度重要的。每一次抬頭看見月亮，這一種內在的迫切感覺，就會出現。
渴望團聚，本來就是一種正常的感覺。
但是，儒學卻走多了一步。他們斷定，愛是在這圓圈裡面的。因為，愛是有差等的，愛是有範圍的。而離開了人際之間的階梯，愛就應該減少。而在範圍之內，長輩應該享受更多的愛，擁有更大的威權。
月是圓的。這圓圓的月，就形成了中國文化的象徵圖像。
中國人的月亮是圓的。外國人的月亮，會不會更加圓些？當然是不會的。雖然這是個笑話，但是，卻反映了中國文化的一個側面。他們是極端重視這一個「圓」的。他們以為，一切都是在這個圓的內裡發生的。他們的心態是內射的，是不會向外的。
愛只是一種階梯裡的遊戲。可以愛愛圈外的人嗎？當然是可以的。但潛在的告誡卻是，愛是有差等的。而且，應該尊敬長輩。長輩才是真正的權威。
知識來自經典，而權威的意見，是決定性的。
從此，中國人就喪失了思想的自由。
………………………………
最後，還要談談一個所謂「內在」的問題。
有三種觀察角度。內向的、外向的，還有多向的。
中國文化是右腦傾向的。他們比較喜歡從內在角度觀察。這是否孔子的影響呢？還是只是中國文化的自然發展傾向？這是有待研究的。
至於西方文化，則是比較外向的。除了若干心理學的研究之外，一般來說，西方科學都是否定內在觀察的。這是很大的題目，這裡只能說一點皮毛。初步的印象是，中國人喜歡內在觀察，在外在觀察方面卻有困難。而西方則相反。西方文化常常有這種印象，以為內在觀察是不可能的。甚麼直覺之類，也是作不得準的。拙作「莊子原著與莊子原理」裡，有一章是專門講述內外的。或者可供參考。此書目前只有網上版本。
遊筆至此，大約已經講完。而中國人的悲哀故事，也說完了。
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(明天問題:
What is the inner meaning of mid-autumn festival?
What is the inner meaning of mid-autumn festival?
…………………………………………Leechard
(Quest No.8239e 2011/09/17 Saturday)
There are two different inner meanings of the mid-autumn festival, both need some elaboration.
The first one is the ancient meaning, it represents the original Chinese fighting spirit.
1. You can fight.
2. You are living on earth, You might have errors.
3. You should love each other.
4. You can be happy.
And the second one is the modification of Confucius doctrine, which was developed after the Chou Dynasty :
1. We are living in a round circle.
2. We are kind to each other within the circle.
3. The foreign circle is no better than our circle.
.
What is the fighting spirit to do with the mid-autumn festival? The moon is so peaceful; it seems impossible to associate with fighting.
The story goes on like this:
A long long time ago, there were ten suns running on the sky. One of the Gods Houyi found it unbearable. He did not want to see people suffer. The ten suns were burning them every day. Houyi determined to do something. He used his bow to shoot them. He shot down nine suns.
This spirit to fight for a better living, is the original Chinese philosophy which is very not the same as the Confucius thought to obey the heavenly orders.
The first inner meaning here is: You can fight. Human beings are entitled to have a choice to fight.
However, the suns were in fact sons of the God King. The God King was angry. He punished Houyi, for Houyi had killed his sons. Houyi was banished from the heavens and sent to Earth. He was demoted to become a man.
Houyi begged the Western Queen Mother to help him. The Western Queen mother gave him the everlasting medicine. If he eats the medicine, he could have eternal life, and can go back to the heavens again.
Houyi was happy, he got home and stored the medicine at home. He was waiting a good time to go back to the heavens.
But when he got home, he found his medicine disappeared. Some one had stolen it. His own wife had stolen it.
……………………………………
We might never know why. Why his wife had stolen the medicine and ate it herself?
Storytellers like to add stories to make up a reason. May be she was afraid that she would be left behind, or may be there were some other reasons.
The only possible symbolic meaning is that, under the powers of the supernatural forces, human efforts are possible, though human behavior can never be predicted. The efforts could be right, or wrong or something go between right or wrong, we can not judge which one is better.
From the story we can guess the inner meaning: That we are human, and we could have errors. This is important. Only those who can admit he could be wrong, could find the right path next time. This concept is very much like the western concept of sin, though they are not the same.
And fate itself could be the result of human effort, not the designation of the Gods. The story illustrates that the medicine was stolen by another human being, and not taken by the designated Houyi.
Now Houyi must stay behind. He is a man.
The beautiful wife of Houyi was Chang’e.
Chang’e had taken the medicine, and found her body lighter. She can walk faster and when she tried to step on the stairs, she found that a force lifted her. She had never had such feelings before.
Now she can fly. She flew all the way to the moon. She stayed there ever since.
She must be lonely.
The inner meaning: You should love one another. It might be that they have not loved one another, that separated them.
It is love itself that had aroused such lonely feelings. She longed to be loved.
She was lonely and he had more misfortunes later. The other side of love is jealousy. He was killed by his own student. His student was jealous about his archery success, thinking Houyi was the best and if he was killed then the student himself will be the best. And the stupid student could never understand that even if Houyi was dead, he would still be a second class archer, and could never enter into the inner beauty of the sport, though he might be the champion then. The student used a piece of wooden club to strike Houyi in the head behind him. And this action excluded the student himself from the heavens of beauty forever.
Jealousy emerges where love diminishes. Therefore, you must love one another.
And this also reminds us:
Houyi must had made a terrible mistake. Human is to err. He had not loved Chang’e. Or else, they will not be separated.
Now, we are able to make up the story gap. When Houyi was banished to Earth, he met a girl. They must had a very hot affair. Now, he is going to leave. Leaving behind the poor girl. He will enjoy his heavenly life alone. Any one could have imagined, what will happen.
And now, we had come to the more important part of the story. There is always an unbearable urge in the minds of the Chinese people: People wanted to be reunited. Whenever people see the moon, the urge is there.
A wish to get together is a normal feeling.
However, the Confucius doctrine had gone one step more. They determined that love is something happening within the family circle, as human relations are under a fixed ladder hierarchy. The superiors should be respected more in the circle.
The moon is a circle, and that becomes an icon of the Chinese culture. And the circle had such important meaning that they thought the “foreign circle” is not “rounder” then the Chinese circle, though it is more or less a joke. And it shows us, the Chinese is taking the circle very seriously. In Confucius culture, every thing happens within the circle, they are always searching inward, not outward.
Love is a hierarchic game. Should people love someone outside the circle? Though the answer is positive, but people are always reminded that love comes in the form of a ladder, and they should respect the elders more, loving them first and their judgements are final.
Knowledge is from Confucius doctrines, and only authorities could judge them.
In this way, the Chinese had lost their freedom to think under the Confucius rule.
Finally, more about the so called “Inner” meaning.
There may be three kinds of observations, internal, external and perhaps multi-dimentional observation. The Chinese culture are right-brain inclined. They are more inclined to see things from within. Is this the result of Confucius doctrine? Or is this the natural Chinese way of observation? It is not clear yet.
And Western culture is more external inclined. Except in some studies of psychology, most of the time, western science denies internal observation. This is a very large topic and we can only touch it form a very beginning starting point. And all we can say is that the Chinese may have some difficulties to see things from an outside angle, while the west found it almost impossible to observe from the inside. More about in and out observation can be found in my book: “Zhuang Zi Theory and the original Zhuang Zi” which is written in Chinese and published on the web.
And this ends my observation and the sad story about mid-autumn festival.
Inquiry 852- 2559-4690
★Write to
Academy2008@hotmail.com
★Or, click the ‘comments’ links below.
…………………………………………Leechard
(Quest No.8239e 2011/09/17 Saturday)
There are two different inner meanings of the mid-autumn festival, both need some elaboration.
The first one is the ancient meaning, it represents the original Chinese fighting spirit.
1. You can fight.
2. You are living on earth, You might have errors.
3. You should love each other.
4. You can be happy.
And the second one is the modification of Confucius doctrine, which was developed after the Chou Dynasty :
1. We are living in a round circle.
2. We are kind to each other within the circle.
3. The foreign circle is no better than our circle.
.
What is the fighting spirit to do with the mid-autumn festival? The moon is so peaceful; it seems impossible to associate with fighting.
The story goes on like this:
A long long time ago, there were ten suns running on the sky. One of the Gods Houyi found it unbearable. He did not want to see people suffer. The ten suns were burning them every day. Houyi determined to do something. He used his bow to shoot them. He shot down nine suns.
This spirit to fight for a better living, is the original Chinese philosophy which is very not the same as the Confucius thought to obey the heavenly orders.
The first inner meaning here is: You can fight. Human beings are entitled to have a choice to fight.
However, the suns were in fact sons of the God King. The God King was angry. He punished Houyi, for Houyi had killed his sons. Houyi was banished from the heavens and sent to Earth. He was demoted to become a man.
Houyi begged the Western Queen Mother to help him. The Western Queen mother gave him the everlasting medicine. If he eats the medicine, he could have eternal life, and can go back to the heavens again.
Houyi was happy, he got home and stored the medicine at home. He was waiting a good time to go back to the heavens.
But when he got home, he found his medicine disappeared. Some one had stolen it. His own wife had stolen it.
……………………………………
We might never know why. Why his wife had stolen the medicine and ate it herself?
Storytellers like to add stories to make up a reason. May be she was afraid that she would be left behind, or may be there were some other reasons.
The only possible symbolic meaning is that, under the powers of the supernatural forces, human efforts are possible, though human behavior can never be predicted. The efforts could be right, or wrong or something go between right or wrong, we can not judge which one is better.
From the story we can guess the inner meaning: That we are human, and we could have errors. This is important. Only those who can admit he could be wrong, could find the right path next time. This concept is very much like the western concept of sin, though they are not the same.
And fate itself could be the result of human effort, not the designation of the Gods. The story illustrates that the medicine was stolen by another human being, and not taken by the designated Houyi.
Now Houyi must stay behind. He is a man.
The beautiful wife of Houyi was Chang’e.
Chang’e had taken the medicine, and found her body lighter. She can walk faster and when she tried to step on the stairs, she found that a force lifted her. She had never had such feelings before.
Now she can fly. She flew all the way to the moon. She stayed there ever since.
She must be lonely.
The inner meaning: You should love one another. It might be that they have not loved one another, that separated them.
It is love itself that had aroused such lonely feelings. She longed to be loved.
She was lonely and he had more misfortunes later. The other side of love is jealousy. He was killed by his own student. His student was jealous about his archery success, thinking Houyi was the best and if he was killed then the student himself will be the best. And the stupid student could never understand that even if Houyi was dead, he would still be a second class archer, and could never enter into the inner beauty of the sport, though he might be the champion then. The student used a piece of wooden club to strike Houyi in the head behind him. And this action excluded the student himself from the heavens of beauty forever.
Jealousy emerges where love diminishes. Therefore, you must love one another.
And this also reminds us:
Houyi must had made a terrible mistake. Human is to err. He had not loved Chang’e. Or else, they will not be separated.
Now, we are able to make up the story gap. When Houyi was banished to Earth, he met a girl. They must had a very hot affair. Now, he is going to leave. Leaving behind the poor girl. He will enjoy his heavenly life alone. Any one could have imagined, what will happen.
And now, we had come to the more important part of the story. There is always an unbearable urge in the minds of the Chinese people: People wanted to be reunited. Whenever people see the moon, the urge is there.
A wish to get together is a normal feeling.
However, the Confucius doctrine had gone one step more. They determined that love is something happening within the family circle, as human relations are under a fixed ladder hierarchy. The superiors should be respected more in the circle.
The moon is a circle, and that becomes an icon of the Chinese culture. And the circle had such important meaning that they thought the “foreign circle” is not “rounder” then the Chinese circle, though it is more or less a joke. And it shows us, the Chinese is taking the circle very seriously. In Confucius culture, every thing happens within the circle, they are always searching inward, not outward.
Love is a hierarchic game. Should people love someone outside the circle? Though the answer is positive, but people are always reminded that love comes in the form of a ladder, and they should respect the elders more, loving them first and their judgements are final.
Knowledge is from Confucius doctrines, and only authorities could judge them.
In this way, the Chinese had lost their freedom to think under the Confucius rule.
Finally, more about the so called “Inner” meaning.
There may be three kinds of observations, internal, external and perhaps multi-dimentional observation. The Chinese culture are right-brain inclined. They are more inclined to see things from within. Is this the result of Confucius doctrine? Or is this the natural Chinese way of observation? It is not clear yet.
And Western culture is more external inclined. Except in some studies of psychology, most of the time, western science denies internal observation. This is a very large topic and we can only touch it form a very beginning starting point. And all we can say is that the Chinese may have some difficulties to see things from an outside angle, while the west found it almost impossible to observe from the inside. More about in and out observation can be found in my book: “Zhuang Zi Theory and the original Zhuang Zi” which is written in Chinese and published on the web.
And this ends my observation and the sad story about mid-autumn festival.
Inquiry 852- 2559-4690
★Write to
Academy2008@hotmail.com
★Or, click the ‘comments’ links below.
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